Women on Weights

Yesterday I taught my first community ed class, Women on Weights. My mom and baby fitness classes didn't fill, and it didn't look like the others would either until about a week ago when my weight training class did.

It was a very strange feeling to go to a strange new place, have no idea what to expect of the facility or participants, and begin to instruct a class there. I wondered how much the participants realized I was completely winging it.

The participants were friendly and understanding of the fact that this was my first time in this facility. They are all middle age women, weight training for the very first time. It makes it easier that they haven't taken this class before from the previous instructor and therefore don't have any expectations. The class is small, 5 participants and only 4 were there yesterday. It is nice for them, more like a small-group personal training session.

What I was NOT impressed with was the equipment. I was expecting the best from a middle school that is practically brand new. They must have gotten the old stuff from the high school after they got new equipment (Ben said their facility is pretty impressive.) I can make it work - we can use free weights and balls, etc. for some of the exercises. I was more concerned about the middle school students! These machines were not very adjustable, and were mostly too big for my 5'4" women! I'm 5'7 and the bicep curl machine was too big for me even. I don't see how this could get overlooked. Maybe the absence of teachers and coaches who are anything but tall adult males?

On top of that there were some broken spots on a couple of the machines and there were pieces missing on others. When the community ed coordinator told me to let her know if there were any issues with the equipment, I thought "what could be wrong?" I did let her know in an email right away yesterday and I felt bad doing so as a new instructor. "New complainer on board" they will think.